JAZZ MUSIC AT ST. PJ'S
One of the things that we love about Sunday morning at St. PJ's -- and a unique hallmark of the church -- is that all of our music is led by trained jazz musicians. From the saxophone's sweet tones to the piano's bright, rhythmic chords, we find it easier to connect with God when jazz fills our sanctuary and our spirits. From praise to lament, jazz can tap into any God-created human emotion.
A typical Sunday features 2-4 musicians including our long-time music director, Will Cleary, on alto saxophone, and our associate music director, Dylan Rowland, on piano. They are sometimes joined by additional musicians for special occasions like Palm Sunday and Christmas, and often by volunteer cantors who lead the congregation in singing hymns and spirituals.
St. PJ's has a proud history of hosting jazz concerts and other musical events throughout our campus. As a way of supporting the local arts community, we are also pleased to make both the Sanctuary and the Music Office available for musicians to rent at affordable rates for rehearsals and performances.
A typical Sunday features 2-4 musicians including our long-time music director, Will Cleary, on alto saxophone, and our associate music director, Dylan Rowland, on piano. They are sometimes joined by additional musicians for special occasions like Palm Sunday and Christmas, and often by volunteer cantors who lead the congregation in singing hymns and spirituals.
St. PJ's has a proud history of hosting jazz concerts and other musical events throughout our campus. As a way of supporting the local arts community, we are also pleased to make both the Sanctuary and the Music Office available for musicians to rent at affordable rates for rehearsals and performances.
Meet Dylan Rowland,
Interim Music Director
Dylan Rowland is a local musician and music teacher located in central CT. He began his music career by attending the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Magnet High School, and continued his music education through college while attending the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the Hartt School of Music.
From there, he made many connections in the music community in Hartford and New Haven, eventually leading him to perform in New York City and beyond. One of his many collaborators includes Delfeayo Marsalis of the famous Marsalis family, as Dylan has played many performances with Marsalis’s group Uptown Jazz Orchestra. They’ve performed at Birdland Jazz Club in Manhattan; Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club in Portsmouth, NH; and The Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme, CT. Dylan also performs regularly with a Brazilian Tap Dance group called Music From the Sole. They have done many workshops together and have performed their original works at the Guggenheim in NYC, Jacob’s Pillow in the Berkshires, Guild Hall in East Hampton, NY, and NuBlu in lower Manhattan. The tap company travels around the world bringing their original work to many performance spaces and will continue to do so for years to come!
Dylan has also been a music teacher for six years, working at the Macri School of Music in Plainville, CT, which has been voted "best guitar and piano instruction in Connecticut six consecutive years" by the Hartford Readers Poll.
The pianist says his history with PJ’s is "short yet rich." For the last four years, Dylan worked alongside Will Cleary, the previous music director of 15 years, bringing his love for the Lord and musical experience to each and every worship service. The two have planned and performed many concerts and community engagement events, bringing the congregation together in new ways to worship and celebrate. Dylan took over as music director at the very end of 2025, and will continue to bring that same energy and love into each day here at St. PJ’s!
From there, he made many connections in the music community in Hartford and New Haven, eventually leading him to perform in New York City and beyond. One of his many collaborators includes Delfeayo Marsalis of the famous Marsalis family, as Dylan has played many performances with Marsalis’s group Uptown Jazz Orchestra. They’ve performed at Birdland Jazz Club in Manhattan; Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club in Portsmouth, NH; and The Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme, CT. Dylan also performs regularly with a Brazilian Tap Dance group called Music From the Sole. They have done many workshops together and have performed their original works at the Guggenheim in NYC, Jacob’s Pillow in the Berkshires, Guild Hall in East Hampton, NY, and NuBlu in lower Manhattan. The tap company travels around the world bringing their original work to many performance spaces and will continue to do so for years to come!
Dylan has also been a music teacher for six years, working at the Macri School of Music in Plainville, CT, which has been voted "best guitar and piano instruction in Connecticut six consecutive years" by the Hartford Readers Poll.
The pianist says his history with PJ’s is "short yet rich." For the last four years, Dylan worked alongside Will Cleary, the previous music director of 15 years, bringing his love for the Lord and musical experience to each and every worship service. The two have planned and performed many concerts and community engagement events, bringing the congregation together in new ways to worship and celebrate. Dylan took over as music director at the very end of 2025, and will continue to bring that same energy and love into each day here at St. PJ’s!